INTERESTING STORY THE TIGER IN THE TUNNEL READ IN FREE TIME AND IMPROVE YOUR KNOWLEDGE

 THE TIGER IN THE TUNNEL

There was no moon that night, and the deathly stillness of the surrounding ungle was broken only occasionally by the shrill cry of a cicada. Sometimes from far off came the hollow hammering of a woodpecker, carried along on the faint breeze. But these sounds were rare, and the silence of the forest always returned to swallow them up. 

Baldeo, the watchman, was awake. He stretched himself, slowly unwinding the heavy shawl that covered him like a shroud". It was close on midnight and the chill air made him shiver. The station, a small shack backed by heavy jungle, was a station in name only; for trains only stopped there, if at all,fora few seconds before entering the deep cutting that led to the tunnel. Most trains merely slowed down before taking the sharp curve before the cutting

Baldeo was responsible for signaling whether or not the tunnel was clear of obstruction, and his hand-worked signal stood before the entrance. At nig was his duty to see that the lamp was burning, and that the overland nia. passed through safely. 

Shall I come too, father?' asked Tembu sleepily, still lying huddled in a corner of the hut. . 

No, it is cold tonight. Do not getup.' 

Tembu, who was twelve, did not always sleep with his father at the station, for he had also to help in the home, where his mother and small sister were usually alone. They lived ina small tribal village on the outskirts of the forest, about three miles from the station. Their small rice fields did not provide them with more than a bare living and Baldeo considered himself lucky to have got the job of Khalasi' at this small wayside signal stop. 

Still drowsy, Baldeo groped for his lamp in the darkness, then fumbled about in search of matches. When he had produced a light, he left the hut, closed the door behind him, and set off along the permanent way'. Tembu had fallen asleep again. 

Baldeo wondered whether the lamp on the signal-post was still alight. Gathering his shawl closer about him, he stumbled on. Sometimes along the rails, sometimes along the ballast'. He longed to get back to his warm corner in the hut which overhung the main line threateningly. On entering the cutting with its sheer rock walls towering high above the rails, Baldeo could not help thinking about the wild animals he might encounter which were supposed to frequent this spot; but he hardly believed these stories for, since his arrival at this place a month ago. There had, of course, been panthers, and only a few days ago the villagers had killed one with their spears and axes. Baldeo had occasionally heard the sawing' of a panther calling to its mate, but they had not come near the tunnel or shed. 

Baldeo walked confidently for, being a tribal' himself, he was used to the jungle and its ways. Like his forefathers, he carried a small axe; Fragile to look at, but deadly when in use. With it, in three or four swift strokes, he could cut down a tree as neatly as if it had been sawn; and he prided himself in his skill in wielding it against wild animals. He had killed a young boar with it once. and the family had feasted on the flesh for three days. The axe-head of ire steel, thin but ringing true like a bell, had been made by his father over a sharcoal fire. This axe was part of himself, and wherever he went, be it to the local market seven miles away, or to a tribal dance, the axe was always in his hand. Occasionally, an official who had come to the station had offered him good money for the weapon, but Baldeo had no intention of parting with it. 

The cutting curved sharply, and in the darkness the black entrance to the tunnel looked up menacingly. The signal light was out. Baldeo set to work to haul the lamp down by its chain. If the oil had finished, he would have to return to the hut for more. The mail train was due in five minutes. 

Once more he fumbled for his matches. Then suddenly he stood still and listened.The fright end cry of a barking deer, followed by a crashing sound in the undergrowth, made Baldeo hurry. There was still a little oil in the lamp, and after an instances hesitation he lit the lamp again and hoisted it back into position. Having done this, he walked quickly down the tunnel, swinging his own lamp, so that the shadows leapt up and down the soot-stained walls, and having made sure that the line was clear, he returned to the entrance and sat down to wait for the mail train. 

The train was late. Siting huddled up, almost dozing, he soon forgot his surrounding and began to nod. Back in the hut, the trembling of the ground told of the approach of the train, and a low, distant rumble woke the boy, who sat up, unbind the sleep from his eyes. 

Father, it's time to light the lamp,' he mumbled, and then, realising that his father had been gone some time, he lay down again, but he was wide awake now, waiting for the train to pass, waiting for his father's returning footsteps. 

A low grunt resounded from the top of the cutting. In a second Baldeo was awake all his senses alert. Only a tiger could emit such a sound. 

There was no shelter for Baldeo, but he grasped his axe firmly and tensed his body, trying to make out the direction from which the animal was approaching.For some time there was only silence, even the usual jungle noises seemed to have ceased altogether. Then a thump and the rattle of sma stones announced that the tiger had sprung into the cutting. 

Baldeo, listening as he had never listened before, wondered if it was makus for the tunnel or the opposite direction the direction of the hut, in W Tembu would be lying unprotected. He did not have to wonder for lo Before a minute had passed he made out the huge body of the tiger tro steadily towards him. Its eyes shone a brilliant green in the light from the Signal-lamp. Fight was useless, for in the dark the tiger would be more sure- footed than Baldeo and would soon be upon him from behind. Baldeo stood with his back to the signal-post, motionless, staring at the great brute moving rapidly towards him. The tiger, used to the ways of men, for it had been preying on them for years, came on fearlessly, and with a quick run and a snarl struck out with its right paw, expecting to bowl over this puny man who dared stand in the way. 

Baldeo, however, was ready. With a marvelously agile leap he avoided the paw and brought his axe down on the animal's shoulder. The tiger gave a roar and attempted to close in. Again Baldeo drove his axe with true aim; but, to his horror, the beast swerved, and the axe caught the tiger on the shoulder, almost severing the leg. To make matters worse, the axe remained stuck in the bone, and Baldeo was left without a weapon. 

The tiger, roaring with pain, now sprang upon Baldeo, bringing him down and then tearing at his broken body. It was all over in a few minutes and then there was blackness and the night closed in on him forever. 

The tiger drew off and sat down licking his wounded leg, roaring every now and then with agony. He did not notice the faint rumble that shook the earth, followed by the distant puffing of an engine steadily climbing. The overland mail was approaching. Through the trees beyond the cutting, as the train advanced, the glow of the furnace could be seen, and showers of sparks fell like Diwali lights over the forest. 

As the train entered the cutting, the engine whistled once, loud and piercingly. The tiger raised his head, then slowly got to his feet. He found himself trapped like the man. Flight along the cutting was impossible. He entered the tunnel, morning as fast as his wounded leg would carry him. And then, with a roar and a shower of sparks, the train entered the yawning tunnel. The noise in the confined space was deafening but, when the train came out into the open, on the other side, silence returned once more to the forest and the tunnel. 

At the next station the driver slowed down and stopped his train to water the engine. He got down to stretch his legs and decided to examine the head- lamps. He received the surprise ofhis life; for, just above the cow-catcher"lay NC ajor portion of the tiger, cut in half by the engine. 

There was considerable excitement and conjecture at the station, but back at the cutting there was no sound except for the sobs of the boy as he sat besides the body of his father. He sat there a long time, unafraid of the darkness guarding the body from jackals and hyenas, until the first faint light of dawn brought with it the arrival of the relief-watchman. 

Tembu and his sister and mother were plunged in grief for two whole days; but life had to go on, anda living had to be made, and all the responsibility now fell on Tembu. Three nights later, he was at the cutting, lighting the signal-lamp for the overland mail. 

He sat down in the darkness to wait for the train, and sang softly to himself. There was nothing to be afraid ofhis father had killed the tiger, the forest gods were pleased; and besides, he had the axe with him, his father's axe, and he knew how to use it. 

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